Updated: Jun 8, 2024
10 Essential Food Safety Tips Food safety is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, and it's important to take the necessary precautions to prevent foodborne illnesses. Following these 10 essential food safety tips will help keep your customers safe. 1. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food: This is the most basic yet crucial step in food safety. Use warm water and soap to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before handling any food. This helps remove bacteria and other harmful pathogens from your hands. 2. Keep raw and cooked foods separate: To avoid cross-contamination, always keep raw and cooked foods separate. Use separate chopping boards and utensils, for raw and cooked foods. This prevents the transfer of harmful bacteria from raw food to cooked food. 3. Cook food thoroughly: Cooking food to the right temperature kills harmful bacteria and ensures its safety. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat, poultry, and seafood, we recommended an internal temperatures of 75°C. 4. Store food at the correct temperature: Proper food storage is essential to prevent bacterial growth. Keep perishable foods like meat, dairy products, and leftovers refrigerated at or below 8°c and use a refrigerator thermometer to ensure the temperature is accurate. 5. Avoid cross-contamination: Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria from raw food is transferred to cooked / ready to eat food. To prevent this, always use separate chopping boards and utensils for raw and cooked foods. Clean and sanitize them thoroughly after each use. 6. Use safe water and ingredients: Ensure that the water you use for cooking and washing food is safe. The water must be portable water from the mains as this is treated. 7. Practice proper food storage: Properly storing food helps maintain its quality and prevents spoilage. Use airtight containers to store food and label them with the date to ensure you use them within a safe timeframe. 8. Clean and sanitize kitchen surfaces: Regularly clean and disinfect your kitchen surfaces, including countertops, chopping boards, and utensils. Use hot, soapy water to clean them thoroughly, and use an antibacterial /sanitizer solution to kill any remaining bacteria, ensure your antibacterial solution is British approved standards i.e. BSEN 1276 / 13697 etc 9. Be mindful of food expiration dates: Always check the expiration dates on food packages. Using expired food can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses. If you notice any signs of spoilage, such as a foul smell or mould, discard the food immediately. 10. Educate yourself and staff about food safety: Stay informed about the latest food safety guidelines and best practices, ensure food handlers are trained in food hygiene matters. By following these 10 essential food safety tips, you can protect your customers from foodborne illnesses. Remember, food safety is everyone's responsibility, and taking these precautions will help create a safer and healthier environment in your kitchen.
